1 Thessalonians · 18 verses
1 Thessalonians 4
Every verse links to the people and places named in it, and to the passages readers connect it with.
The chapter
What happens here
Atlas's own reading, written from this chapter and nothing else, and published only once a person has approved it. Each scene names the verses it covers; the names inside it link to the people and places they name.
When the Lord descends, the dead are not left waiting at the back: they rise first, and only afterward are the living swept up with them into the clouds.
Holiness, affection, and an unremarkable afternoonvv. 1–12
The opening movement gathers ordinary conduct under a remarkably high heading: holiness. Sexual immorality, uncontrolled passion, and exploiting a brother are all refused; the body is to be held in holiness and honor. Then the tone gentles into brotherly love, which the brothers already show throughout Macedonia, though more of it is encouraged. Quiet living, one’s own affairs, and work done with one’s own hands complete the picture—a very sober little portrait, with no trumpet yet in sight.
The dead take the front placevv. 13–18
The subject turns to those who sleep in death. The order of the coming is unusually precise: the Lord descends from heaven with a loud command, an archangel’s voice, and God’s trumpet; the dead in Christ rise first. Only after that do the living join them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. The final words return the astonishing scene to speech between brothers: these words are to encourage one another.
The text
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Berean Standard Bible, public domain. Names the Hebrew and Greek put in the verse link to the person, place or people they name; the address beside each verse is a link to that verse, which is what a reader copies and shares.
1 Thess 4:1Finally, brothers, we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus to live in a way that is pleasing to God, just as you have received from us. This is how you already live, so you should do so all the more.
1 Thess 4:2For you know the instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.
1 Thess 4:3For it is God’s will that you should be holy: You must abstain from sexual immorality;
1 Thess 4:4each of you must know how to control his own body in holiness and honor,
1 Thess 4:5not in lustful passion like the Gentiles who do not know God;
1 Thess 4:6and no one should ever violate or exploit his brother in this regard, because the Lord will avenge all such acts, as we have already told you and solemnly warned you.
1 Thess 4:7For God has not called us to impurity, but to holiness.
1 Thess 4:8Anyone, then, who rejects this command does not reject man but God, the very One who gives you His Holy Spirit.
1 Thess 4:9Now about brotherly love, you do not need anyone to write to you, because you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another.
1 Thess 4:10And you are indeed showing this love to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to excel more and more
1 Thess 4:11and to aspire to live quietly, to attend to your own matters, and to work with your own hands, as we instructed you.
1 Thess 4:12Then you will behave properly toward outsiders, without being dependent on anyone.
1 Thess 4:13Brothers, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who are without hope.
1 Thess 4:14For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we also believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him.
1 Thess 4:15By the word of the Lord, we declare to you that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who have fallen asleep.
1 Thess 4:16For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will be the first to rise.
1 Thess 4:17After that, we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord.
1 Thess 4:18Therefore encourage one another with these words.
02 — Read alongside
Where this is echoed
Readers' own connections, from OpenBible's crowd-voted cross-references — agreement about relevance, and not scholarly confidence. 382 passages were voted onto 18 verses of this chapter; the 16 shown lead on votes, and each is listed at the verse it was voted onto most strongly.
- 161 Corinthians 15:51–52Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—
- 171 Corinthians 15:52in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
- 16Revelation 1:7Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him—even those who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. So shall it be! Amen.
- 16Matthew 24:30–31At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
- 31 Peter 4:2Consequently, he does not live out his remaining time on earth for human passions, but for the will of God.
- 17Revelation 11:12And the witnesses heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Come up here.” And they went up to heaven in a cloud as their enemies watched them.
- 14Romans 8:11And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you.
- 3Romans 12:2Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
- 161 Corinthians 15:23But each in his own turn: Christ the firstfruits; then at His coming, those who belong to Him.
- 31 Thessalonians 5:23Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your entire spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- 13Daniel 12:2And many who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to everlasting life, but others to shame and everlasting contempt.
- 1Colossians 1:10so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,
- 17John 14:3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and welcome you into My presence, so that you also may be where I am.
- 11Ecclesiastes 4:6Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and pursuit of the wind.
- 11Ephesians 4:28He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing good with his own hands, that he may have something to share with the one in need.
- 3Hebrews 13:4Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.
Onward